Automatic clip dispenser

ABSTRACT

An automatic clip dispenser wherein clips are automatically sent one by one to materials to be clipped, such as papers or the like, from the dispenser and thereby is capable of positively clipping the materials at the desired position.

ited States Patent [191 Takamizawa et a1.

[ Aug. 20, 1974 AUTOMATIC CLIP DISPENSER [75] Inventors: Noboru Takamizawa; Teizo Miura,

both of Tokyo, Japan [73] Assignee: Adac Company Limited, Tokyo,

Japan [22] Filed: Feb. 28, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 336,790

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 17, 1972 Japan 47-38446 June 14, 1972 Japan 47-69386 Oct. 17, 1972 Japan 47419260 [52] US. Cl. 29/212 P, 221/232, 221/279 [51] int. CI B23q 7/10 [58] Field of Search 221/226, 228, 229, 279,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,156,743 5/1939 Skrebba 29/212 P 2,176,116 10/1939 Baetzhold et a1 29/212 P 2,647,029 7/1953 Deland 221/279 X 3,100,932 8/1963 Pipkin 29/212 P 3,324,538 6/1967 Christensen 29/212 P FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 283,448 6/1952 Switzerland 29/212 P Primary ExaminerRobert B. Reeves Assistant ExaminerJoseph J. Rolla Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Toren, McGeady and Stanger 57] ABSTRACT An automatic clip dispenser wherein clips are automatically sent one by one to materials to be clipped, such as papers or the like, from the dispenser and thereby is capable of positively clipping the materials at the desired position.

8 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures PATENTEDmszo lam sum mar 10 FIGI PATENTEIHuszo I974 I SHEET 02 if 10 FIG 3 FIGZ PATENTEUwaeo I974 3 82-9. 9554 saw 03 ar 10 PATENTEMus-zcr I974 3.829.954 sum as or 10 FIGII PATENTEDAUB 20 m4 sum '07 or 10 FIG I6 PATENTEnAuszo mm sum as or 10 FIG I7 PATENTEIJmszo I974 I FIG I9" PATENTEDAUGZO mm 3; 829.954

sum '100F 1o FIG 20 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an automatic clip dispenser and more particularly to an automatic clip dispenser which automatically sends out clips which can exactly clip materials to be clipped, such as papers and the like without making any scratches.

A clip, as generally known, has been formed by a steel wire or the like having a required length, which is double bent a substantially oblong. Upon using. such clips are taken on the users hand one by one and after double bending ends were expanded to define a space therebetweenwith finger tips, the clip has been interposed into a desired clipping position of materials to be clipped. Accordingly, in the aforesaid type of a clip, all of its clipping operations become troublesome because they are effected by finger tips and in addition, there is the problem that clips are taken up by hand,one by one, every time the materials are to be clipped. In particular, the case of clipping a large quantity of materials, there is a bad influence upon the clipping efficiency and has resulted in reduced office efficiency.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been studied and developed in order to solve the aforesaid disadvantages.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an automatic clip dispenser which positively supplies clips one by one at a desired clipping portion of materials to be clipped with a single hand operation and which can clip automatically at the desired clipping portion without opening holes and making any scratches.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic clip dispenser wherein the supply of clips and their clipping to materials are simply effected by a single hand operation and a time delay from the supply of clips to the clipping thereof is not involved so that the clipping efficiency is remarkably improved.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic clip dispenser wherein filling of clips or exchanging works may be easily and rapidly effected and it has both an extremely high value of article and an attractive external appearance.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a tension mechanism which upon clipping by the automatic clip dispenser tenses a clipping portion of materials to be clipped by pinching both sides of the clipping position on the latter in order to carry out a positive clipping.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an automatic clip dispenser wherein engagement of a pusher for sending out clips and a horizontal portion of the clip is very precisely effected so that sending of clips is carried out very smoothly and exactly.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an automatic clip dispenser which can positively clip by forcibly automatically expanding a clipping portion of a clip when the clip is sent out by the pusher so as to clip materials to be clipped, without scratching the latter.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an automatic clip dispenser wherein an uniform pushing force is always applied at its sending portion in spite of accumulated quantity clips whereby feeding of the clip is very smoothly effected and in addition, sending of the clip is smoothly carried out without hindrance.

Another object of the present invention'is to provide an automatic clip dispenser which smoothly sends a clip after expanding it, and at the same time is adapted to check the sending of the next clip not to interfere with its clipping actuation.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an automatic clip dispenser wherein upon clipping action of materials to be clipped, a clipping piece vide an automatic clip dispenser wherein a large number of oblong form clips made of a steel wire or the like, are accumulated whereby handling of clips is simple and the clipping operation is continuously effected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The aforesaid, other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description when read in connection with drawings.

In drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view in a non actuating state of an automatic clip dispenser embodying the present invention, but an opening state at a side of one body is illustrated by the single point chain line;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing an actuating state of the automatic clip dispenser in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view at the right side in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line VV in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a section view taken on the plane of the line VIVI in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a sliding pusher member for pushing clips;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of an engaging portion of two bodies in the automatic clip dispenser;

FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway view at the right side in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line XX in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, show-' ing a state which clips materials to be clipped;

FIG. 12 is a side view of a clip;

FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view, showing an accumulated state of a large number of clips;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view, showing a stage which is the materials being held by means of a clip;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, showing a modification of a tension mechanism for the materials to be clipped;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged perspective view schematically showing a tension mechanism for materials to be clipped;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged perspective view showing a modification of a clip expanding mechanism;

FIG. 18 is a front view showing a state in which a clip is sent by the clip expanding mechanism shown in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a further modification of a clip expanding mechanism; and

FIG. 20 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing a further modification of a tension mechanism for materials to be clipped.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. I to FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a housing, for example, made of a synthetic resin material, which is entirely provided with side plates 2 and 2, oppositely disposed, and an end face plate 3, a lower end of the housing 1 being molded in the form of gentle slope. Inside the housing I is hollow and it is open at the right end side in FIG. 1. A body 4 is received in the inside of the housing I and mounted to the housing 1, for example, by means of welding or screwing or the like. The body 4 has side plates 7 and 7, oppositely disposed, and its right end side in FIG. 1 is open. In FIG. 1, upper ends of the side plates 7 and 7 are cut away in the form of L-shape and on tip ends of the cutaway portion 8 are formed an engaging protrusion flange 9 (refer to FIG. 8). An engaging body (described hereinafter) may be engaged with the engaging protrusion flange 9. A pusher member 10 in the form of substantial angle section is disposed on an upper end of the body 4 and its flange portion 10a is abutted to an inner surface of the body 4 and is mounted on the body 4 by fastening means as the aforesaid. Also, a V-shaped recess 11 is provided on a tip end surface of a web 10b on the pusher member 10 (refer to FIG. 9 and 17) and is adapted to engage a horizontal portion of a clip hereinafter described. A pressing plate 12 in an angle shape of a leaf spring is disposed on the web 10b of the pusher member 10 in keeping a proper distance and its flange portion 12 is mounted on the body 4 by fastening means as the aforesaid. Mounted on the tip end of the web 12b of a the pressing plate 12 is a pressing roller 13 which acts to press a base end portion of materials to be clipped mentioned hereinafter (refer to FIG. 11). In this case, the pressing roller 13 is not always necessary and according to circumstances the tip end of the web 12b on the pressing plate 12 may be rounded in the form of cylinder.

A supporting frame 14 formed in a substantially channel shape in section is disposed in the opening portion of the body 4 and at a lower end thereof in FIG. 1 is entirely provided with a mounting piece 140 rotatably mounted about a shaft 15 disposed between the side plates 7 and 7 of the body 4. A pressing spring 16 formed in a substantially "-shape is interposed between the supporting frame 14 and the body 4 which is in a condition which is always subjected to an acting force of the spring 16 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1, as a fulcrum the shaft 15. Formed in an upper end of the supporting frame 14 is an engaging recess 17 which supports in fitting an engaging member 18 therein (refer to FIGS. 7 and 8). Mounted on the engaging member 18 is one end of a spring type 19 of leaf spring in the form of a belt and the other end of which is wound about an engaging piece 21 provided on a sliding pusher member 20 mentioned hereinafter. The

engaging piece 21 is rotatably and slidably guided in elongated holes 30 and 30 formed in side plates 29 and 29 of a further body 28 described hereinafter (refer to FIG. 7). Shown at reference numeral 22 is a housing, for example, made of synthetic resin or the like, which is oppositely disposed to the housing 1 and is so constructed that a body portion of the device not seen from the outside, is in cooperation with the housing I. The housing 22 is formed in a substantially U-shape in section and a clipping portion 23 is entirely provided on an upper end of the housing 22. A clipping piece 25 providing clipping teeth 24 thereon is provided to protrude on both sides of the clipping portion 23 and is adapted to pinch materials 31 to be clipped, such as papers or the like (refer to FIG. 11) in cooperation with clipping teeth 27 of a movable clipping piece 26 described hereinafter.

The body 28 is U-shape in section is received in the housing 22 and is mounted by a clamping screw 32 from outside of the housing 22. Lower portions of the opposite side plates 29 and 29 of the body 28 are rotatably mounted on the shaft 15 disposed on the side plates 7 and 7 of the body 4. Upper ends of the opposite side plates 29 and 29 of the body 28 are closed by an upper side wall plate 33 and is cut away at an end flange 34 in the body 4 side (refer to FIG. 8). In the same Figure, an engaging recess 35 is formed in the lower end of the cutaway portion 34 and therein, is intended to engage and disengage the engaging portion 18. An opening window 36 is formed in a corner of the body 28 at the opposite side to the cutawaway portion 34 (refer to FIGS. 8 and 10) whereby clips 37 are positively pushed out, one by one, by the pusher member 10 and is sent between the clipping portion 23 and the movable clipping piece 26. Opposing expanding members 38 and 38 are entirely provided on the body 28 at both sides of the opening window 36 and the tip ends of the expanding members 38 and 38 are bent toward inside (refer to FIG. 10). The bending portion 39 and 39 are sharply formed toward the direction of tip ends thereof. In consequence, the device is constructed automatically to expand the clips, when they are sent one by one by the sharp portions 39 and 39.

The aforesaid movable clipping piece 26 is pivotably mounted on a mounting plate 41 by means of a pivot 40 (refer to FIG. 11). The mounting plate 41 is provided on the upper side wall plate 33 of the body 28.

A stopper 42 is entirely provided on a base end of the movable clipping piece 26. The stopper 42 is adapted to hook the pressing roller 13 mounted on the tip end of the pressing plate 12 explained hereinbefore whereby the movable clipping piece 26 is always subjected to an acting force in a direction separate from the fixed clipping piece 25. On the contrary, formed at free end sides of the opposite clipping pieces 25 and 26 is a relatively large opening 43 through which the materials 31 to be clipped are interposed. The movable clipping piece 26, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, is provided with a center cutting portion 44 leaving its base end portion and is formed in a bifurcation shape of free end thereof. Protruding pieces 45 and 45 providing the clipping teeth 27 at its tip ends are formed on portions positioning on the fixed clipping piece 25 of respective lower surfaces of the bifurcating portions. The fixed clipping portion 23 is formed to be a channel shape when it is seen from the direction of the opening window portion 43 and the teeth 24 are formed at tip ends of both rising pieces. Accordingly, as explained hereinafter. when the movable clipping piece 26 has pinched the materials 31 to be clipped in conjunction with the fixed clipping piece 25 a space portion 43a is formed between both clipping pieces 25 and 26 in a manner that the clips 37 is pushed out one by one (refer to FIG. 11).

Secondly, a preferred embodiment of the clip 37 for applying to the automatic clip dispenser of the present invention is explained in accordance with FIG. 12 to FIG. 14. A simple substance of the clip 37 is formed in a shape having a substantially U-shaped portion 46 and a horizontal portion 47 and a U-shaped portion 48 by bending one steel wire. Free ends 4621 and 48a of the U-shaped portion 46 and 48 are positioned at the horizontal portion 47 and the U-shaped portions 46 and 48 are adapted to coincide with each other. A large number of such clips 37 are pre-accumulated as shown in FIG. 13. Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the clips 37 which have accumulated are joined without completely fixing in a manner that their separation is made in smooth when a pushing force is applied by the pusher member thereto.

Action of the automatic clip dispenser according to the present invention is now explained below. First, to insert the clips 37 in the automatic clip dispenser, the housings 1 and 22 are held to apply the acting force in a direction in which the housings become more distant each other. Thereupon, when the acting force is continuously applied after the engaging recess 35 (refer to FIG. 8) of the body 28 came off from the engaging member 18, free end sides of the housings l and 22 become more distant each other and at the same time the spring 19 rolled in the engaging piece 21 is wound back. If the housings l and 22, however, are separated to open 90 or more than 90, as mentioned above the housing 1 is brought to theposition of the single point chain line as shown in FIG. 1, the sliding pusher 20 providing the engaging piece 21 is guided in the elongated holes and 30 provided in both side plates 29 and 29 of the body 28 and is brought to the lower end as shown in FIG. 1. Thus, as the housing 1 side of the body 28 is completely opened the accumulated clips 37 in the form shown in FIG. 13 may be received within in the U-shaped recess of the body 28 through the above opening. In this case, the U-shaped portion of the clips 37, of course, are received to face toward the inner deep direction of the V-shaped recess of the body 28. After finishing each process as mentioned above, if the housings I and 22 are brought in a direction in which the housings approach adversely to the aforesaid, the free end sides .of the housings 1 and 22 approach with the aid of the coiling force of the clockwork spring 19 each other and the engaging member 18 again engage with the engaging recesses of the body 28. In this case, because the spring 19 is wound on the engaging piece 21 the sliding pusher 20 displaces in the U- shaped recess of the body 28 from the bottom to the top in FIG. 1 whereby the accumulatedclips 37 are upwardly pushed and the clip 37 in the highest position is positioned at a sending position opposing the expanding members 38 and 38 adjacent to the opening window 36. The next clip is positioned slightly below so as not to align with the opening window 36.

Now, in case of clipping the materials 31 to be clipped, such as a plurality of papers piled up, with a clip 37, the materials 31 held by a single hand are positioned between the teeth 24 and 27 in interposing the portion to be clipped thereof through the opening portion 43 between the fixed clipping portion 23 and the movable clipping piece 26. The automatic clip dispenser, also, is held by the other hand and the acting force is applied in a direction in which the housings 1 and 22 approach each other. Then, the pressing roller 13 provided on the tip end of the pressing plate 12 rotatingly moves on the slant surface 49 of the movable clipping piece 26 from the left to the right in FIG. 1 so that the movable clipping piece 26 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction having as a fulcrum the pivot and the clipping teeth 27 are moved toward the clipping teeth 24 of the fixed clipping piece 25. Therefore, the materials 31 are interposed between the clipping pieces 25 and 26. At the same time, the pusher member 10 moves into the same direction as the pressing plate 12 and the recess 11 in the tip end of the web engages the horizontal portion 47 of the clip 37 so as to push the clip 37 from the left to the right in FIG. 1. The clip 37 separates from the next subjacent clip 37 accumulated throughthe intermediary of the pushing acting force and is sent into the space portion 43a. Upon pushing out, the tip end portion 39 sharply formed on the expanding member 38 enters between the U-shaped portions 46 and 48 of the clip 37 and gradually expands then to send out as the clip 37 is disposed (refer to FIG. 11). When this expansion attains the desired width the clip 37 enters into the space portion 43a and the material 31 in the gripped condition pinched by the clipping teeth 24 and 27 are interposed into the expanded portion of the clip 37. Thus, when the pressure by the holding or biasing together of the housings 1 and 22 is fully carried out, the pusher member 10 is fully sent to release the clip 37 in the space portion 43a and the clip positively clips the clipping portion of the materials 31 (refer to FIG. 11 and 14).

As mentioned, after the clip 37 has been supplied into the space portion 430 between the clipping pieces 25 and 26 and has clipped the materials 31, when the pressure by the holding or biasing together is released the body 4 rotates in the counterclockwise direction having as a fulcrum the shaft 15 with the aid of the elastically acting force of the pressing spring 16 so as to return to the position shown in the full line in FIG. 1 and at the same time the spring 19 is wound up on the engaging piece 21 by the spring force of it and furthermore, the next clip 37 is moved into the sending position by rising of the sliding pusher 20 in FIG. 11. Accordingly, by carrying out the same operation as the aforesaid, the clips 37 are sent one by one and can automatically act the clipping operation of the materials to be clipped.

Further, an explanation is made about a modification of the tension mechanism of the materials to be clipped according to the present invention in connection with FIG. 15 and 16. In this embodiment the explanation is made only to different parts from the aforesaid embodiment and is abbreviated about other parts only by attaching the same numberals as those of the aforesaid embodiment.

A pressing plate 12 made of leaf spring in the form of angle is disposed on a web 10b of a pusher member 10 while keeping a proper distance and a flange portion 12a of the pressing plate 12 is mounted on a body 4. A tip end of the web 12b on the pressing plate 12 is formed in a circular arc shape 13a which is carried on a base end portion of a movable clipping piece 26.

The movable clipping piece 26 has not a stopper as the aforesaid embodiment and is pivotably mounted on a mounting plate 41 by a pivot 40. The mounting plate 41 is provided on an upper side wall plate 33 of a body 28. Wound around the pivot 40 is a spring 50, one end of which engages on a lower surface of the movable clipping piece 26 and the other end of which engages on the upper side wall plate 33 of the body 28, respectively, whereby the movable clipping piece 26 is always subjected to an acting force in a direction displacing it more distantly from a fixed clipping piece 25. On the contrary, formed at free end sides of opposite clipping pieces and 26 is a relatively large opening 43 (refer to FIG. 16) through which the materials 31 are interposed. The explanation of an action of this embodiment abbreviates because of being similar to that of the above mentioned embodiment.

Next, a modification of the clip expanding mechanism is explained in reference to FIGS. 17 and 18, but the explanation of the same members as the aforesaid embodiment abbreviates in attaching the like numerals.

In FIGS. 17 and 18, upper ends of opposite side plates 29 and 29 of a body 28 are closed by an upper side wall plate 33 and an opening window is formed in a corner of the body 28 as the aforesaid embodiment. Clips 37 are positively sent one by one by the pusher member 10. Integrally provided on the body 28 are opposing members 38 and 38, tip ends of which are bent toward the inside. A slant protrusion 51 is integrally formed on the body 28 on a U-shaped upper flange of the body 28 positioned at the opening window 36 and an upper flange 52 of the slant protrusion 51 is positioned so that the one portion 48 of the clip 37 can pass between tip ends of sharp portions 39 and 39 on the expanding members 38 and 38. Further, a downwardly slant protruding piece 53 is integrally provided at the tip end of the upper side wall plate 33 of the body and a free end of the downwardly slanting protruding piece 53 is positioned at a distance so that one portion 46 of the clip 37 can pass between the sharp portion 39 and 39 of the expanding member 38 and 38.

However, in this embodiment the sharp end portion 39 and 39 of the expanding members 38 and 38 enter into portions 46 and 48 of the clip 37 and at the same time because the tip end of the U-shaped portion 48 disposed on the lower side passes over the upper flange 52 of the slant portion 51 provided on the upper flange of the U-shaped portion of the body 28 and the tip end of the U-shaped portion 46 disposed on the upper side of the clip 37 passes under the tip end of the downwardly slanting protruding piece 53, the slanting protrusion 51 and the downwardly slanting protruding piece 53 are adapted to position at the portion of the clip 37, that is, at the inside of the U-shaped portions 46 and 48. Then, the clip 37 enters into the space portion 43a explained in the aforesaid embodiment when tne expanding of the clip 37 is at a desired width and fits the materials to be clipped in the space, which are in a tensed condition pinched or held by the clipping pieces. Thus, if the pushing of the pusher member 10 is fully effected, a horizontal portion 47 of the clip 37 engaging with the recess 11 of the tip end of the pusher member 10 is sent through the gap between the expanding members 38 and 38, the slant protrusion 51 and the downwardly slanting protruding piece 53 for positively clipping the materials because the slant protrusion 51 is cut away in the form of slant.

On the contrary, according to the above embodiment, because the engaging portion to the clip 37 of the pusher member 10 is formed in the form of a V-shape or the like shape in section, the V-shaped recess 11 is positively caught in the horizontal portion 47 of the clip 37 so that without occurring the relative sliding phenomenon between the clip and the pusher the positioning is exactly effected whereby the sending of the clip may be smoothly and positively carried out. When the clip, also, is disposed while expanding each portion of the clip to pass between a pair of expanding members and protrusions upwardly and downwardly disposed without any interference, but since the next clips having the clip portion coinciding each other is adapted completely to prevent the sending by the protrusions upwardly and downwardly disposed, it does not cause double sending of the clips. In consequence, the clipping operation may be smoothly and positively effected.

Further, in an embodiment shown in FIG. 19, an upper side wall plate 33 and a body 28 are separately formed and the plate 33 is mounted on upper ends of both sides of the body 28.

Accordingly, action in this embodiment abbreviates its detailed description only by attaching the same numeral to the same member as that of the aforesaid embodiment because it is similar to the aforementioned embodiment.

A further embodiment of the tension mechanism of the materials to clip is next explained in conjunction with FIG. 20.

In FIG. 20, an upper portion of a housing 1 is integrally provided with an actuating member 55 by which a guide space portion 56 is formed at the upper end of the housing 1. An upper end flange 57 of a housing 22 cooperating with the housing 1 is arranged to permit entrance and exit in the guide space portion 56.

The aforesaid actuating member 55 provided on the housing 1 forms a tapered surface 58 on a lower surface of its tip end. This tapered surface 58 is adapted to slide on a roller 59. The roller 59 is pivotably mounted on a mounting plate 41 provided on an upper side wall plate 33 by a pivot 62. On the pivot 62 is wound a spring 63, one end 64 of which is hooked by a stopper piece 65 of the pivoting lever and other end 66 of which is hooked on a movable clipping piece 260 in the form of channel in section. The movable clipping piece 260 is always subjected to an acting force in a direction opposite to the clipping direction by a leaf spring 67 and also the spring 63 is constructed in a manner that a free end flange of the actuating member 55 and the roller 59 maintain a slight gap at the position in FIG. 20 through the intermediary of an adjusting member 68 whereby it is adjusted to reduce idle upon dashing from behind.

Then, after holding material 31 to be clipped in one hand, a portion to be clipped is interposed between a fixed clipping portion 23 and the movable clipping portion 260, that is, into an opening 430 of the housing 22 so as to position on a clipping piece 25. Further, after holding the automatic clip dispenser with the other hand, an acting force is applied to a direction in which the housings 1 and 22 become near each other. Then, the tapered surface 58 of the actuating member 55 provided on the housing 1 strongly pushes the roller 59 and displaces to the right direction while sliding it. For this reason, the movable clipping piece 260 rotates in the clockwise direction as a fulcrum the pivot 62 by an elastically acting force of the spring and both side protruding pieces 450 of the movable clipping piece 260 forcibly contact to the clipping piece 25 of the fixed clipping portion 23. Accordingly, the materials 31 is pinched between the protruding piece 450 of the movable clipping piece 260 and the clipping piece 25 in the tensed condition. At the same time, the pusher member moves in the same direction as the actuating member 55 and the recess 11 of a tip end of the web engages with a horizontal portion of the clip 37 to push out one of the clips 37 toward the right direction. The same action as the aforesaid embodiment is effected to clip the materials 311. According to the aforesaid embodiment, since when the clip is clipped to the materials the tapered surface of the actuating member moves the pivoting lever whereby an acting force of the spring mem ber is adapted to apply to the movable clipping piece, tension holding of the materials located at its clipping position is rapidly and positively effected and clipping is positively effected in spite of difference of thickness in a certain range of the materials to be clipped.

Furthermore, since a pulling force is applied to the sliding roller pushing the accumulated clips by the clockwork type spring the clip is always sent to the sending position on the basis of a uniform pushing force. In consequence, the clipping operation to the materials to be clipped is exactly and smoothly effected.

Since the clips used in each of the aforesaid embodiments are formed of steel wire or the like in the semioblong form having two U-shaped portions substantially coincided each other and one horizontal portion and a large number of clips are accumulated, a simple substance of the clips is not in danger of dispersing them and causing various interferences in their handling and in particular, because the clips are accumulated it is a preferred clip structure for use in the automatic and continuous clipping operation.

Further, although the aforementioned embodiments have been explained with respect to a semi-oblong shape of the clip 37, the shape of the clip used in the present invention is not limited to such a shape, but it may, for example, be in the form of a circular, oval, triangle or the like shape for use and its material can use not only steel wire, but other materials.

According to the present invention, by a simple single hand operation, clips are positively supplied one by one to be expanded, thereby obviating the very troublesome operation of expanding clip by a manual operation. In consequence, according to the present invention, since supplying the clip can be automatically effected, the efficiency of the clipping work sharply increases and further it improves management of business. Furthermore, with the automatic clip dispenser according to the present invention it is possible to clip without opening holes and scratching the materials to be clipped, in spite of the automatic clipping operation utilized.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic clip dispenser for placing clips each having a pair of displaceable clipping parts onto materials to be clipped together, comprising a first means and a second means interconnected and relatively movable one with respect to the other so that clips can be moved into a clipping position, expanded, and displaced individually onto the materials held together by said first and second means, wherein the improvement the improvement comprises that said first means includes an elongated first body having a first end and a second end, said second means includes an elongated second body having a first end and a second end, said first body and said second body being articulated together adjacent the first end of each so that the second end of each can be moved toward and away from the second end of the other in dispensing clips, a third body mounted in said second body and elongated in the same directions as said second body and having a first end located adjacent the first end of said second body and a second end located adjacent the second end of said second body, said third body arranged to receive a plurality of clips in an ordered arrangement, a sliding pusher member positioned within said third body, biasing means associated with said third body and said first body and operatively connected to said sliding pusher for moving said sliding pusher from the first end toward the second end of said third body for movably displacing clips loaded into said third body into the clipping position, said biasing means being displaceable with said first body when said first and second bodies are displaced away from one another and said biasing means arranged for disengageably securing said first and second bodies together, a pressing plate mounted in said first body adjacent its second end and arranged to project into the second end of said second body when said first and second bodies are displaced toward one another, said third body having an opening therein adjacent its second end so that individual clips can be moved through the opening and clipped to materials, an expanding member located in said third body adjacent the opening therein at its second end for expanding the displaceable clipping parts as a clip is displaced through the opening by said pusher member, a movable clipping piece pivotally mounted on the second end of said third body, a fixed clipping portion formed on said first body adjacent its second end and located in opposition to said movable clipping piece, and said pressing plate arranged to contact said movable clipping piece and to pivot it toward said fixed clipping portion as said first and second bodies are moved toward one another.

2. An automatic clip dispenser, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said movable clipping piece and said fixed clipping portion each having teeth formed thereon and disposed in opposition to the teeth formed on the other for securing materials to be clipped together.

3. An automatic clip dispenser, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said third body having a pair of spaced elongated slots extending in the direction between its first and second ends, said sliding member includes an engaging piece positioned within and movably guided through the elongated slots in said third body, said biasing means comprises a spring attached at one end to said engaging piece and said spring being windable on said engaging piece for displacing said sliding member toward the second end of said third body.

4. An automatic clip dispenser, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said first means includes a supporting frame located within said first body, a pressing spring secured to and positioned between said first body and said supporting frame, said biasing means includes an engaging member to which the other end of said spring of said biasing means is secured and said engaging member is rotatably mounted in the end of said supporting frame located closer to the second end of said first body.

5. An automatic clip dispenser, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a first protrusion is located within said third body slanting upwardly toward the second end thereof and positioned in the path of the clip being moved toward the opening in said third body by said pusher member, a second protrusion disposed opposite said first protrusion within said third body and positioned between said first protrusion and the second end of said third body, said second protrusion slanting downwardly toward the first end of said third body, and said first and second protrusions arranged to expand the clip being displaced through the opening in said third body while retaining the following clips from displacement.

6. An automatic clip dispenser, as set forth in claim 1, wherein spring means are arranged for biasing said movable clipping piece toward and away from said fixed clipping portion, said spring means includes a pivotally mounted first spring associated with said pressing plate for displacing said movable clipping piece toward said fixed clipping portion and a second spring mounted on said third body and biasing said movable clipping piece away from said fixed clipping portion.

7. An automatic clip dispenser, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pusher member has a first end directed toward the opening in said third body and the end of said pusher member directed toward the opening as a V-shaped groove formed therein for contacting the clip in the clipping position for moving it toward the opening in said third body.

8. An automatic clip dispenser, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said expanding member comprises a pair of pointed members having the apexes thereof directed toward said pusher member so that the displaceable clipping parts of the clip in the clipping position contact said pointed expanding members for displacing said clipping parts away from one another. 

1. An automatic clip dispenser for placing clips each having a pair of displaceable clipping parts onto materials to be clipped together, comprising a first means and a second means interconnected and relatively movable one with respect to the other so that clips can be moved into a clipping position, expanded, and displaced individually onto the materials held together by said first and second means, wherein the improvement the improvement comprises that said first means includes an elongated first body having a first end and a second end, said second means includes An elongated second body having a first end and a second end, said first body and said second body being articulated together adjacent the first end of each so that the second end of each can be moved toward and away from the second end of the other in dispensing clips, a third body mounted in said second body and elongated in the same directions as said second body and having a first end located adjacent the first end of said second body and a second end located adjacent the second end of said second body, said third body arranged to receive a plurality of clips in an ordered arrangement, a sliding pusher member positioned within said third body, biasing means associated with said third body and said first body and operatively connected to said sliding pusher for moving said sliding pusher from the first end toward the second end of said third body for movably displacing clips loaded into said third body into the clipping position, said biasing means being displaceable with said first body when said first and second bodies are displaced away from one another and said biasing means arranged for disengageably securing said first and second bodies together, a pressing plate mounted in said first body adjacent its second end and arranged to project into the second end of said second body when said first and second bodies are displaced toward one another, said third body having an opening therein adjacent its second end so that individual clips can be moved through the opening and clipped to materials, an expanding member located in said third body adjacent the opening therein at its second end for expanding the displaceable clipping parts as a clip is displaced through the opening by said pusher member, a movable clipping piece pivotally mounted on the second end of said third body, a fixed clipping portion formed on said first body adjacent its second end and located in opposition to said movable clipping piece, and said pressing plate arranged to contact said movable clipping piece and to pivot it toward said fixed clipping portion as said first and second bodies are moved toward one another.
 2. An automatic clip dispenser, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said movable clipping piece and said fixed clipping portion each having teeth formed thereon and disposed in opposition to the teeth formed on the other for securing materials to be clipped together.
 3. An automatic clip dispenser, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said third body having a pair of spaced elongated slots extending in the direction between its first and second ends, said sliding member includes an engaging piece positioned within and movably guided through the elongated slots in said third body, said biasing means comprises a spring attached at one end to said engaging piece and said spring being windable on said engaging piece for displacing said sliding member toward the second end of said third body.
 4. An automatic clip dispenser, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said first means includes a supporting frame located within said first body, a pressing spring secured to and positioned between said first body and said supporting frame, said biasing means includes an engaging member to which the other end of said spring of said biasing means is secured and said engaging member is rotatably mounted in the end of said supporting frame located closer to the second end of said first body.
 5. An automatic clip dispenser, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a first protrusion is located within said third body slanting upwardly toward the second end thereof and positioned in the path of the clip being moved toward the opening in said third body by said pusher member, a second protrusion disposed opposite said first protrusion within said third body and positioned between said first protrusion and the second end of said third body, said second protrusion slanting downwardly toward the first end of said third body, and said first and second protrusions arranged to expand the clip being displaced through the opening in said third body while retaining the following clips from displacement.
 6. An automatic clip dispenser, as set forth in claim 1, wherein spring means are arranged for biasing said movable clipping piece toward and away from said fixed clipping portion, said spring means includes a pivotally mounted first spring associated with said pressing plate for displacing said movable clipping piece toward said fixed clipping portion and a second spring mounted on said third body and biasing said movable clipping piece away from said fixed clipping portion.
 7. An automatic clip dispenser, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pusher member has a first end directed toward the opening in said third body and the end of said pusher member directed toward the opening as a V-shaped groove formed therein for contacting the clip in the clipping position for moving it toward the opening in said third body.
 8. An automatic clip dispenser, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said expanding member comprises a pair of pointed members having the apexes thereof directed toward said pusher member so that the displaceable clipping parts of the clip in the clipping position contact said pointed expanding members for displacing said clipping parts away from one another. 